AutoCAD 2022 - Font size incorrect when inserting excel table

[chillegass]

We insert tables all the time in our drawings. Recently we got two new identical CAD workstations. We are using AutoCAD 2022. When we insert a new table into a drawing on workstation #1, (see jpeg 1 left is how it comes in when inserted) the table comes in at the correct size and scale. All the text is the proper height. When we insert the exact same table on workstation #2. (see jpeg 2 left is how it comes in when inserted) When inserted the table comes in at the correct size and scale however the text is almost half the size it is supposed to be.
We have verified the application and all the user settings are the same on both workstations. On Workstation #2 we have recreated the table style, reinstalled the fonts, recreated the data links, verified all the table style cell styles, and general, text and border tabs are the same as station #1. We have spent hours searching the forums for a solution, to no avail. We have developed a sort of work around which is a few steps and would like to get this resolved. Any help or guidance is appreciated.

[ The subject line of this post has been edited for clarity by @handjonathan Original: Font size incorrect when inserting excel table ]

[pendean]

Looks to be different settings for STYLE command due to user actions, or missing fonts/font substitutions taking place.

What happens if PC1's DWG with the problem table is opened on PC2? And vice versa with the file from PC2? I don't see you mentioning that test internally.

>>>...We have spent hours searching the forums for a solution...<<<
Can you share a DWG file with this table from each of the two computers for review so a reason can be better identified, vs just looking at pictures of results? Unless you want to spend a few more hours playing 100 guesses 😉

[chillegass]

If a table is inserted from workstation #1 into a drawing and saved. Then Workstation #2 opens the drawing it displays correctly. We then took the same drawing and deleted the good inserted table and tried to use the same link to re-insert the table into the drawing. We got the same result of the font being too small. 

[pendean]

Share a DWG file with this table from each of the two computers for review so a reason can be better identified.

[ChicagoLooper]

You didn’t mention Table Styles. 

A style is the most important concept when you desire consistency. Whether from drawing-to-drawing or from computer-to-computer, the ‘style’ controls the appearance. 

Just like your garden variety font, Text Styles control the way your font appears. If two computers have the same text style, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will appear exactly alike. This is exasperated when the ‘style’ is named Standard.

 The Standard text ‘style’ may have been customized a certain way on the first computer and another way on the second. Even though both computers use identical fonts and the same Standard Text Style, their appearance will not be the same due the inconsistent modifications. For example, one style may use a narrow font width while the other uses normal width. One may have an override for font height while the other doesn’t. 

Modifications to Table styles, Text styles and Multi-Leader style can be tricky because the mods may have been accidental without user knowledge making it frustrating for users to troubleshoot. This is especially true when users fail to consider the role Styles play in their dwg’s. 

In your case, you need to establish a Table Style then make sure both computers are sharing that specific table style. Also important is not let an external program, such as Excel, dictate the font or font height in your pasted table. Your AutoCAD Table Style should control those—don’t rely on an external program to provide stylizations to your Tables—Acad doesn’t like that, he’ll tell Excel, ‘Stay in ur lane, bro….Stay in yo lane.’ Excel, of course, will ignore Acad and override your font. To counter the hijack perpetrated by Excel, apply your Table Style to the Table. (Select the pasted table>>go to Properties Palette>>change Table Style)

You can establish your custom Table Style by making a copy of Standard Table Style, renaming it to MyStyle, then make modifications to it.

If you’re ambitious, you can make deeper mods to your Table by customizing the Table Rows in MyStyle, e.g. Title Row, Header Row and Data Row may all use the same Arial font but your title row may use Arial Bold Style, the Header row may use Arial Normal Style and your data row(s) may use Arial Italics Style. Although all rows use the same Arial font they are using different text styles and each style is applied to a different row type. 

[chillegass]

Here is a drawing with the issue

[pendean]

@Anonymous You have font and textsize overrides in your cells in the two tables: plus the fact that you also have two different table styles with two different names with different settings to boot.

How to you folks train your users to follow your one method /set of standards at the moment? It might be a good time for a quick overview with all involved, I suspect steps are being missed or never developed/trained to avoid.

HTH

[chillegass]

Not sure what you are saying. We are trying to figure out why they are inserting different. We do not really use the standard table style. I am not sure why that one was on standard. We have deleted the tables and both inserted the tables again. We insert them on the CRC Stnd style. We use the same excel table which is formatted the same way. We do not alter settings as we bring the table in. We have compared both stations and have the same table style (identical settings) Same font sets (identical) and use the same drawing template. It does not matter if we are in the template or just a blank drawing we continue to have this issue. This is a setting issue not a training issue. See attached again.

[chillegass]

Where do you change the "textsize overrides in cells"

[pendean]

@Anonymous Looks like with your latest DWG you changed a few things, including tablestyles.

Select the left-side table in either DWG file, then right-click to select REMOVE ALL OVERRIDES and see what I mean. Do the same with the other Table.

And more. See attached, it needs time to fix after the fact as you presented it.

[chillegass]

Thank you for looking at this with us. While we have not found the reasons, we have learned a few things from your observations. 

Your solution does make the tables appear the same but with additional steps. I am still trying to determine why they just do not insert in the same format, scale and spacing by just using the "table command" and then following the same steps only. The table on the right is the way we would like it to appear. 🤔

[Scott.Clingan]

Has there been any new information on this issue? This is a recurring issue for us as well. We have verified that font and table styles are the same from user to user but some users are totally incapable of importing with the proper font size. An IT guy had suggested that it has to do with Excel being 32 bit installation and Cad being 64 (or visa versa?) but the version installed are controlled by a global IT provider. So we can't verify that. 

[pendean]

>>>...but some users are totally incapable of importing with the proper font size...<<<
Dumb question, but what specifically (in detail) is unique about these users' PCs/setups that is different from everyone else' in the office with no issues?

And by chance has someone from the no-issues team sat at one of the problem PCs and tried to confirm there is something different (or not) yet?

>>>...So we can't verify that. ...<<<
Sure you can https://www.google.com/search?q=windows+os%3A+how+to+find+whether+an+app+is+32bit+or+64bit

TIA

[Scott.Clingan]

I have not been able to log any detailed differences. We had one user that had a separate issue who had to reinstall Microsoft Office, and that fixed the issue for them. That was what led us to believe it is an issue between 32-bit and 64-bit.
*We are not able to control the install version.  That is what I meant by not able to verify the bit version

[TerryDotson]

This is a recurring issue for us as well.

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Check the Windows font scaling across your groups PCs.  Choose one (100, 125, 150%, etc) that fits the entire groups PCs.  Then set all PCs to the same scaling because Excel will generate content that varies with scales.

[chillegass]

Tried setting both workstations to the same scale and this does not resolve the issue

[Scott.Clingan]

So that actually did work for us. We use our laptops and 2 additional monitors. Most people set their laptops to have the text scaled to 125%. So when we initially tested it by setting all monitors to have text scaled to 100%, it didn't work. But after shutting down both AutoCAD and Excel, it did work. So thank you!!

[TerryDotson]

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Tried setting both workstations to the same scale and this does not resolve the issue

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Have you rebooted the PCs after changing the settings?

[id_17]

Hi I am reply to this old post to see if there is any headway on the solution. I have same issue and it is not just one or two computers that changes text ht and cell dimensions. As far as I can figure out is has to do with TTF installed on the computer.

I will give you an example. My computer had windows 10 loaded by an image our IT this goes company wide. The tables worked great on 7 of the 10 computers used for this project. I thought it could be additional software installed (adobe adds/changes fonts). Now they upgraded to win 11 and all worked fine on 2 of the 10 computers. mine was fine. There were issues with the computer, and it got wiped out and a clean win 11 image was installed. Now the table is wacked fonts not coming in correct the cells dimension is way different and no computer with win 11 works with the table and fonts. And yes we can change them manually with is not a solution to something that worked for many years. Yes every time we upgraded windows we had to adjust our table style to suit. Altfont in acad option has no effect. I cannot bring TTF fonts back from 10 to 11. IT does not give out rights to mess with the computer